Diaphragm type milk releaser



March 10, 1953 F. G. HonsDoN DIAPHRAGM TYPE MILK RELEASER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 29, 1950 .Wm mw ,1mg/m g@ my@ FP X March 10, 1953 F. G. HoDsDoN 2,630,782

DIAPHRAGM TYPE MILK RELEASER Filed Sept. 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,F271 for.' Hoya/.7 a/Oafsaon March 1o, 1953 ,Gt HODSDON 2,630,782

DIAPHRAGM r TYPE MILK RELEASER Filed sept. 29,1950 3 sheets-sheet 3 J527/g72 for' flgya! faQ/Scion Patented Mar. 10, F1951? V2,630,782 DIAPHRGM TYPE MILK RELEASER Floyd G. Hodsdon, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to International Harvester Company, a-corporation of New Jersey Application September 29, 1950,` Serial No. 187,529

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in milk releasers and more particularly to a milk releaser operated by a diaphragmA structure.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved milker releaser, the releaser having provisions wherein the milk may be discharged from a milking system under vacuum, the releaser being operable to elevate the discharged `milk to a pipe line at a higher level or altitude than the altitude at which the releaser is positioned.

Still another object is to provide an improved milk releaser having a mechanism for elevating the released milk, the mechanism operating independently of the vacuum system leading to the teat cups of a milking machine.

Still another object is to provide an improved milker releaser actuated by means of a diaphragm structure, the diaphragm structure being ar-v ranged for quick attachment or detachment to a milker pail, thereby permitting the releaser to be easily and quickly cleaned after the operation.

A still further object is to provide an improved milker releaser comprising a receiver pail having outlets for the discharge of milk, the releaser also including a diaphragm pump havingv a casing adapted to be attached to the milker pail, this casing including an upper smaller diaphragm connected by a common shaft at the center to a` lower larger diaphragm in direct operative connection with a source of alternating vacuum and the pressure dierential' being eiTected by a pair of diaphragme, the vacuum stroke'ot the diaphragms resulting in the release of the milk and the pressure stroke of the diaphragms resulting" in the discharge of milk.

The objects of the invention are achieved byv means of a releaser consisting generally of a milk receiver having a milk inlet connection and a vacuum connection.

disposed opening, this opening being enclosed by tubular conduit which is supported on the wall" structure over the opening. The lower wall of The releaser is provided with a lower wall structure having a centrally the container also is provided with a plurality of milk discharge openings. The release of the milk is effected by means of a diaphragm structure which is adapted to be quickly attached and detached to the lower wall of the container. TWO diaphragms are arranged to oscillate in a manner wherein milk is discharged from the container downward to a diaphragm chamber during a certain movement of the diaphragms. Upon a subsequent movement of the diaphragms the milk is discharged upwards from the diaphragm chamber to the tubular conduit and from there the milk is elevated to a pipe line and distributed to its ultimate destination. The lower diaphragm :is actuated by an alternating source of vacuum and atmosphere pulsations such as produced by the 'operation of a conventional pulsator.

Other objects of the invention will becomeA readily apparent from a reading of the specication when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view in elevation through the milker releaser showing a container structure having a diaphragm structure connected thereto. f

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view looking down upon a valve arrangement for a milk releaser, the view being taken substantially on the, line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the valveY structure shown in Fig. 2, fthe view being taken substantially along line 3 -3 of Fig. l. v

Fig. l is a crossfsectional View through a diaphragm structure, the view beingtaken substantally along the line 47-4 of Fig. 1,. V

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional vview through an4 actuating diaphragm and adjacent structure, the view being takenlsubstantially along the line 5 5 ofFig.1; and y Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, in elevation, the view disclosing a pair of valve structures connected to the lower Wall of a container forming part of a milk releaser.

Referring particularly to Fig. l, a milk releaser is generally designated by the reference character i0. The milk releaser l0 includes a milk container or receptacle I l this receptacle being very similar in nature to a type of milk container that` is generally utilized in connection with milking machines. The milk receptacle is provided with. a cover l2 which ts over the upper end of the upper end of the receptacle Il and is suitably sealed thereto byrmeans of an annular seal I3. During any vacuum or minus pressure within the receptacle II the cover I2 is securely and tightly sealed with respect to said receptacle. The cover I2 is provided with a milk inlet connection I4, this connection being generally connected to a milk line of a milking installation (not shown). The milk inlet connection t4 is thus arranged to provide for the entrance of milk into the container II. A vacuum connection I5 is also indicated as being connected to the cover I2, this vacuum connection generally being connected to the vacuum line of a pipe line milking system (not shown).

The container II is provided with a lower or bottom wall I6. The bottom wall I6 is provided with a centrally disposed opening I1. AY plurality of openings I8, as best shown in Figs. l through 3,

are provided in the lower wallV I6, these openings.

I8 being disposed radially with respect to the central opening I1.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the opening I1 is covered by means of a iiexible pad I9 of rubber-like material. The pad has connected to its upper surface a circular metal plate 20, this plate acting as a weight to keep the valve pad I9 in a horizontal position over the opening I1. The valve pad I9 is provided as best shown in Fig. 3 with an arcuate slot 2I.

An elongated tube or conduit 22 is disposed within the container II. The conduit 22 has its lower end supported on top of the flexible pad I9. The tube'22 is provided with an upper open end portion 23, this portion being suitably connected by means of a flexible rubber sleeve 24 to a conduit 25. The conduit 25 may form part of a pipe line system directed toward a reservoir (not shown) adapted to receive the released milk. The tube 22 is suitably held at its upper end by means of an upturned annular bead or collar 26 formed in the cover I2. During assembly the tube 22 is forced downwardly with its lower end engaging the pad I9 in sealing relation, thereby effectively sealing the entrance of the tube 22 from the interior of the receptacle II.

A plurality of radially disposed rivets 28 are connected in the bottom wall I6. The rivets 28 have their heads suitably spaced from the underneath portion of the bottom wall I6, whereby they are adapted to support an annular metal ring 29. The ring 29 is provided with circumferentially spaced keyhole slots 30, the slots being arranged in a manner wherein the ring 29 may be inserted over the rivets and then rotated to securely fasten the ring 29 to the underneath side of the bottom wall I6. The metal ring 29 supports a plurality of radially extending resilient fingers 3I. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the fingers 3I support an annular sealing element 32. The sealing element 32 as best shown in Fig. 1 is positioned over the openings I8, thereby suitably sealing said openings.

The container II is provided with a downwardly extending annular flange or skirt 33. A diaphragm structure generally designated by the reference character 34 is disposed below the bottom wall I6. The diaphragm structure 34 consists of a casing 35. The casing 35 is formed of an annular upper part 33 and an annular middle part 31 between which a diaphragm 38 is ridgedly secured in a suitable manner. The diaphragm 38 consists of a flexible membrane which is suitably fastened between a pair of dished diaphragm plates 39. The upper part 35 is provided with an upwardly extending annular flange 49. The flange 40 provides a seat for an annular seal 4I. The flange 40 supports the seal 4I and the seal 4I engages the underneath side of the bottom wall I6 in sealing relation to form a diaphragm chamber 42. The sealing relation of the seal 4I with respect to the lower wall I6 is securely maintained by means of a plurality of hooks 43, only one of which is shown. The hooks 43 may suitably engage openings 44 disposed circumferentially on the ange 33. Wing nuts 45 are threaded onto the hooks 43, these nuts being arranged so that they may engage projecting portions 46 of the middle part 31. It can thus be seen that by suitably tightening the wing nuts 45 the casing 35 may be securely fastened to the underneath side of the bottom I6.

The casing 35 is provided with a partition 41. A lower part 48 is vertically spaced from the partition 41. A flexible diaphragm 49 is suitably connected between the lower part 48 and the middle part 31, this flexible diaphragm also consisting of a flexible membrane. The diaphragm 49 is suitably connected between a pair of dished plates 50. A connecting rod 5I suitably connects the diaphragm 38, the dished plates 39, the diaphragm 49 and the dished plates 50. The connecting rod 5I may be reciprocated in a bearing member 52. The diaphragm 49 is adapted to oscillate within a diaphragm chamber 53. As shown in Fig. 1 the chamber 53 has connected thereto conduit connections 54 and 55. The connections 54 and 55 are disposed on opposite sides of the diaphragm 49, these connections being adapted to connect to a source of alternating Vacuum atmosphere pulsations (not shown). Such a source may consist of a pulsating mechanism as shown in applicants Patent 1,844,853, dated February 9, 1932.

The operation The milk releaser I0 may be seated on the floor of a milking pit or may be seated on the ground floor of a milking establishment. The pipe lines for the milking system may be arranged above the milk releaser, one of the pipe lines (not shown) being suitably connected to the milk inlet connection I4. It is desired to release the milk from the pipe line under vacuum without disturbing the vacuum within said line. The connection I5 is connected to a source of vacuum and thus the container I I is also under a vacuum. Milk therefore flows to the container through the inlet connection I4. The diaphragm structure 34 is suitably connected to the underneath side of the wall I6 of the container II in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The connections 54 and 55 are alternately connected with a source of vacuum and air pulsations and thus opposite sides of the diaphragm 49 are subjected to alternating atmosphere and vacuum pressures. This operates to cause oscillation of the diaphrasfm 49. this movement being transmitted to th giaphragm 38 by means of the connecting ro In the position shown in Fig. 1 the diaphragm 38 is midway of its stroke, thus subjecting the chamber 42 to a vacuum depression. The pressure differential between the chamber 42 and the container I I is such that the sealing element 32 is drawn away from the openings I8 and milk is discharged through these openings to the diaphragm chamber 42. The flexible valve pad I9 is at this point arranged in a manner wherein the arcuate opening 2| is sealed and no communication between the chamber 42 and the tube 22 exists. As the diaphragm 49 is actuated to push the diaphragm 38 upwardly the sealing element 32 springs back, covering the openings I8, and as thediaphragm 3B is pushed to` its extreme upper position the valve elementnl swings upwardly, wherein' the opening 2l is exposed, thus permitting liquid to be discharged through the opening v2l past the' plate 2i) and up into the tube 22. As the diaphragm is again moved downwardly the hinged rubber valve drops down again in position in the -manner shown in Fig. l wherein the tube 22 is sealed from the chamber 42.

The oscillation of the diaphragms continues in this manner whereby the chamber 42 is alternately filled with milk and the milk is discharged through the tube 22. During each up-stroke of the diaphragm 38 the milk is forcedv upwardly in the tube 22 and it cany readily be seen that by this manner the milk can be elevated to any practical height desired. The diaphragme 38 and 49 are controlled by means of a pulsating mechanism. This mechanism is divorced from the closed system or pipe linein whichthe milk and vacuum is normally carried and thus the released milk is elevated by means of a system which is operated by vacuum completely independent of the pipe line normally carrying the milk.

In a closed milking system wherein the pipe line carries both vacuum and milk, the milk can be elevated by the vacuum which operatesv the closed system but this use ofthe vacuum in elevating milk causes a drop in the vacuum at the milking machine and at the teat cups. This is very undesirable since a constant vacuum should be maintained at all times. In the present mechanism the milk is elevated by a Vacuum source that can be completely independent of the vacuum source operating the milking system. In fact the diaphragms may be oscillated by any independent power means. Thus the vacuum within the milk pipeline is not disturbed during the release and elevation of the milk since the vacuum which draws the milk from the cow does not play any part in the elevation of the milk. l

The structure disclosed is particularly novel.vl

The tube 22 effectively supports the lower wall I6 of the milker releaser. This tube acts to discharge the milk and also functions to reinforce the lower wall I6, this reinforcement being desirable since the interior of the receptaclel Il is subjected to considerable minus pressures. When the releasing operation has been accomplished the operator can quickly and effectivelyV clean the parts of the releaser. The 'diaphragm-y structure 34 can quickly'be removed and the valves can be quickly disassembled for cleaning. The actuating diaphragm 49 is completely separated from the chamber 42 and thus only the parts adjacent the chamber 42 n eed be cleaned.- In other works, the actuating diaphragm is so completely sealed on from the chamber 42 so that contamination of this chamber by the actuating mechanism is'highly improbable.

Applicant has provided a novel milker releaser which permits the elevation of released milk to any desired degree without disturbing the vacuum system normally operating a milking system. The diaphragm structure is so arranged that it may be readily removed from the milker pail or container structure and thus the cleaning and washing of the parts is greatly facilitated.

It must be understood that only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and that changes and modications may be made 6. which donot depart from' the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A milk releaser comprising an upright receptacle having a lower wall, a milk inlet connection and a vacuum connection on said receptacle, an upright tube substantially centrally disposed within said receptacle, said tube having an open portion opening outwardly of the receptacle, vmeans connecting said Ytube to the bottom of the lower wall whereby the interior of the tube is sealed from the interior of said receptacle, said bottom wall including a first opening adapted to communicate with said tube,

a rst valve over said opening, said first valve being adapted to open inwardly toward the interior of the tube, said lower wall further including a plurality of second openings, a second valve resiliently supported over said second openings, said second valve being adapted tov open outwardly of said receptacle, means for actuating said valves comprising a diaphragm structure including a casing, an upright annular ange at the upper portion of said casing, a first' diaphragm supported adjacent the upper end of said casing, means for detachably securing said casing to said receptacle with said iiange seated against the underneath side of said lower wall 1in sealing relation to provide with said rst diaphragm a rst chamber adapted to communicate with said rstand second openings, a secy ond chamber axially spaced from said first chamber, a second diaphragm in said second ,zchamben a reciprocable connecting member extending into the rst and second chambers, means connecting the connecting member to the rst and second diaphragms whereby oscillatory movement of the second diaphragm is imparted to said lrst diaphragm, and means forl oscil-v lating said second diaphragm including first and second conduit connections in communication with they secondfchamber on opposite sides of the second diaphragm, said conduit connections being connectable to a source of alternating vacuum and atmosphere pulsations whereupon vacuum and atmosphere is alternately directed to the second chamber on opposite sides of they second diaphragm for oscillating the same and for imparting Aoscillatory movement to the rst diaphragm, whereupon movement of the first.

diaphragm in one direction the second valve is moved i away from the second opening and milk is delivered from the receptacle to said rst chamber and whereupon movementoi said second diaphragm in a second direction said rst valve is moved-.fromthe rst opening to permit,

the, discharge of milk from the irst chamber to said. upright tube; v

2. A milk releaser comprising a container having a Vmilk inlet connection and a vacuum connection, a lower wall on said container, said wall having a rst centrally disposed opening,

and va vplurality .of openings disposed radially. .outwardly of said central opening, a tube disposed within the container, said tube having its upper end opening outwardly of the container and its lower end disposed over the centrally disposed opening, means for sealing the interior of said tube from the interior of said container, a first valve within said tube disposed over the central opening, said valve being arranged to open inwardly with respect to said opening, a second valve connected to the lower wall, said second valve including a plurality of resilient spring iingers` extending `radially outwardly, an' annular sealing element carried by said fingers, said sealing element being'disposed over said radially disposed openings, a diaphragm structure disposed below the container, said diaphragm structure including a casing, an upright annular iiange projecting upwardly from said casing, a iirst diaphragm supported for oscillation adjacent the annular flange, means for detachably securing said casing to the container with the flange seated against the underneath side of the lower wall in sealing relation to provide a rst diaphragm chamber, a second diaphragm chamber axially spaced with respect to said first diaphragm chamber, a second diaphragm positioned for oscillation within said second diaphragm chamber, means connecting said first and second diaphragms whereby oscillating movement of said second diaphragm is imparted to said first diaphragm, conduit means connected to said casing, said conduit means being connectable with a source of alternating vacuum and atmosphere for alternately supplying vacuum and atmosphere to the second chamber on opposite sides of the seconddiaphragm, whereupon movement of said diaphragms in one direction the second valve is moved to provide for the inflow of fluid from the container to said rst chamber, and whereupon movement of said diaphragms in a second direction said valve is opened and fluid from said second chamber is discharged to said tube.

3. A milk releaser comprising a container having a milk inlet connection and a vacuum connection, a lower wall on said container, said Wall having a first centrally disposed opening, and a plurality of openings disposed radially outwardly of said central opening, a tube disposed within the container, said tube having its upper end opening outwardly of the container and its lower end disposed over the centrally disposed opening, means for sealing the interior of said tube from the interior of said container, a first valve within said tube disposed over the central opening, said valve being arranged to open inwardly with respect to said opening, a second valve connected to the lower wall, said second valve including a plurality of resilient spring lingers extending radially outwardly, an annular sealing element carried by said fingers, said sealing element being disposed over said radially disposed openings, a diaphragm structure disposed below the container, said diaphragm structure including a casing, an upright annular flange projecting upwardly from said casing, a diaphragm supported for oscillation adjacent the annular flange, means for detachably securing said casing tothe container with the flange seated against the underneath side of the lower wall in sealing relation to provide a diaphragm chamber, and actuating means connected to the diaphragm for moving said diaphragm whereupon movement in one direction the second valve is moved to provide for the inflow of fluid from the container to said first 8. chamber, and whereupon movement of said diaphragm in a second direction said first valve is opened and fluid from said second chamber is discharged to said tube.

4. A milk releaser as dened in claim 3, wherein said annular flange is provided with an annular sealing element disposed between the flange and the lower wall of the container, the actuating means for moving said diaphragm including conduit members adapted to be connected to a source of alternating vacuum and atmosphere pulsations.

5. A milk releaser comprising a container having a milk inlet connection and a vacuum connection, a lower wall on said container, a discharge tube supported on the lower wall of the container, said wall having a first discharge opening adapted to communicate with said tube, a rst valve member positioned to open and close said first discharge opening, said wall having a second discharge opening, a second valve member positioned over said second discharge opening, a diaphragm structure disposed below the lower wall, said structure including a casing, first and second diaphragm chambers within said casing, the rst discharge opening being adapted to communicate with the first diaphragm chamber, first and second diaphragms respectively positioned for oscillation within said iirst and second chambers, said first diaphragm chamber being positioned to receive milk through the second discharge opening from the container during the open position of said second valve, a connecting rod connecting the first and second diaphragms, said connecting rod being movable upon yoscillation of said second diaphragm for oscillating said first diaphragm, means for oscillating said second diaphragm to oscillate said rst diaphragm including conduits disposed on opposite sides of the second diaphragm and in communication with the second chamber, said conduits being arranged to connect to a source of alternating vacuum and air pulsation whereupon air and vacuum is alternately directed to the second chamber on opposite sides of the second diaphragm, said second diaphragm being movable to a first position whereupon the second valve moves away from the second opening and milk is discharged from the container into the iirst'chamber, said first diaphragm being movable to a second position whereupon milk is discharged from the first chamber through the rst opening past the first valve and outwardly through said discharge tube.

FLOYD G. HODSDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,458,779 Hodsdon Jan. 11, 1949 2,488,725 Hodsdon Nov. 22, 1949 

